Despite the increased adoption of online shopping, mobile payment and banking apps, electronic data issues and breaches only account for 15 percent of identity fraud, according to a new study from Travelers.
Seventy-three percent of all identity frauds are caused by burglary, theft or misplacement of wallet/purse/personal identification/computer. Top among those was stolen or misplaced pocketbooks and purses, followed by compromised personal IDs and auto/home burglaries. Digital breaches as well as and forgeries (10 percent) rounded out the causes involved in a significant number of cases.
“When everyday essentials, like wallets or drivers licenses, are stolen or go missing, identity fraud often follows,” said Joe Reynolds, identity fraud product manager at Travelers. “Credit cards, drivers licenses and other sources of personal information enable criminals to commit a fraud or crime, all in your name.”
The company used 2011 claims data from its Travelers Identity Fraud Reimbursement Products to compile the results.
